School is 'up for the challenge' after Ofsted black marks

A SCHOOL judged to “require improvement” is up to the challenge.
That was the claim made by Sue Lovecy, the new headteacher of St Martins School, after Ofsted found the school was ‘good’ for the behaviour and safety of pupils but struggled with achievement, quality of teaching, and leadership and management at its latest inspection.
The result marks a decline for the secondary department, the former Rhyn Park School, which was labelled ‘good’ in June 2012 while the primary sector, previously Ifton Heath Primary School, has stayed on the same level as October 2010.
Ms Lovecy assured the Advertizer the school had already moved a “massive way forward”.
“When you read the report there are lots of positives in it,” she said.
“We’re pleased that the behaviour of the pupils came out as good, the inspector was even considering giving us an outstanding for that. We’re thrilled by some of the comments from the children about how we’re supporting them. And we do have some outstanding teaching in the primary and secondary, but we’ve got some targets too.”
The newly merged school, now for three-16-year-olds was told it needed to improve the quality of teaching in its secondary school, particularly in English and maths, as teachers “do not consistently plan lessons that sufficiently support less able students or stretch the most able”.
The report also criticised the quality of marking and timetables and suggested the “new leadership structure is not yet completely in place so teachers are not yet fully held to account for students’ progress”.
But credit was given for achievement in the primary sector thanks to “consistently good teaching”, the early years foundation stage was given a “good” and pupils and students said they valued the good support they received.
The head added: “Some aspects are sorted already and we’ll be working on the rest in the next few months with the help of an inspector.
“We’re all up for it and will be going all out to improve,” she promised.
The primary department, currently based on Overton Road, is set to move to the secondary site on Moors Bank for the start of the September term.
l A PRE-SCHOOL has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ in a recent Ofsted report.
Ruyton XI Towns Pre-School was given the top score following a visit by officials last month.
They found the teaching standards, safety and environment for the youngsters were ‘outstanding’.
Jane Minshall, deputy manager of Ruyton XI Towns Pre-School, said: “We were told that we had given a great standard of teaching, provided great opportunities for children across their developmental stages and shown leadership in the classroom.
“The report also said we have safe environment that will ensure continual improvement.
“We are all really thrilled to have had such a good Ofsted report, especially as the achievement of getting ‘outstanding’ is becoming harder, so it feels even better to have achieved it.”